Spain government denies free health care for immigrants

The Spanish government has decided to deny state-provided medical assistance to foreigners without residency permits papers, Press TV reports.
The decree, which will come into effect in September, rules that foreigners living in Spain who have not paid into the Social Security system will have to pay between 710 to 1,860 euros per year for access to public healthcare.
This comes as foreigners living in the country who do not have residency permits are already being denied treatment at public hospitals and health care centers unless they are under 18, pregnant, or in the case of accidents or emergencies.
The new measures were introduced in April and have caused several protest across the country. Immigrant associations and health care professionals strike this move being as both “unethical” and impractical.
Over 1,000 medical professionals have announced that they will ignore the new decree. The Medical College Association also believes that the new law “violates the ethical principles of medicine and the code of professional ethics”.
Several regional governments have defied Madrid’s new measures saying despite their budgetary restrictions, they will continue to provide basic healthcare and medication for anyone that needs it.
The right to free healthcare for illegal migrants was first introduced in 1999 at a time when Spain’s economy was growing rapidly due to a construction boom.
There are around five million foreigners living in Spain; around half a million of which do not have residency permits.
TNP/JR